Annual Report 2010-2011 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 66 All State Government should complete a detailed survey of the industries within 6 months, unless specific period indicated by the Commission as in case of some States. The Commission to call review meetings of concerned officials of few States in batches every two months. Silica detection equipment should be provided to factory inspectorate to identify industries producing silica. Survey should be divided into two parts. Apart from survey of workers, in silica producing factories, quarries, etc. survey of ex-workers is needed. A Silicosis Board of Mandsaur pattern should be extended to affected districts of all States. Need to differentiate between relief and compensation. In Madhya Pradesh, the status of victims is very poor. Therefore, NHRC recommendation of granting sustenance pension should be implemented early. All affected persons should be treated as Below Poverty Line. Separate programme specially targeting silicosis victims should be designed which should cover health education as well as livelihood /social security. Earlier recommendations made by CPCB and DGFASLI made on behest of NHRC should be implemented. When a victim suffering from Occupational Disease dies, ESIC is to be notified before last rites are performed to ascertain cause of death. They also want post-mortem to be done. It is difficult for the people from poor strata of the society to follow the process involving police. Also, it is not in line with the culture to keep the body for a long time before funeral. This stipulation, therefore, requires change. Method of diagnosis should involve: 1st Step-Screening of persons who worked in silica dust producing factories and have symptoms like cough-breathlessness. Three simple questions - (a) Are you breathless? (b) Have you worked in a “high risk industry“- to be defined; (3) Did you have the symptoms before starting work? Second Step-Medical examination and chest X-rays by doctor at designated “X-ray” center. Third stepSending of X-rays to expert readers for final opinions. A comprehensive strategy to check migration should be designed which can include modifications in the MGNREGA scheme to provide more number of wage days. Many hazardous factories still working, should be closed. State should initiate criminal proceedings against the factories under the provisions of IPC and Factories Act where the labourers have contracted silicosis. DGFASLI should give a standard questionnaire to all States. This should include name, address etc, work history- worked/is working in identified industries, duration of work, hours of work each day, type of work done, level of dust exposure, wages received, symptoms related to chest, wasting, weight loss, record of employment, etc. Silicosis is a public health issue and it should be taken up at the national level. Government of Madhya Pradesh has done some relocation of industries from residential area to industrial area successfully. This may be replicated elsewhere. The High Court of Gujarat has passed order to the effect that all cases of silicosis be given 100% disability. ESIC should resolve to make it a rule. NHRC